HACC, City of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Housing Authority Partner to Offer Innovative Program
HARRISBURG, Pa. – City residents joined the HACC community Sept. 10 for the launch of Harrisburg Promise, an initiative to give middle schoolers a boost toward college completion.
 
The initiative is the result of a partnership created by HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College; the City of Harrisburg; and the Harrisburg Housing Authority.
 
Harrisburg Promise benefits youth in Harrisburg, specifically in these areas: Hall Manor, Hillside Village, Hoverter Homes, MW Smith Homes and William Howard Day Homes.
 
Approximately 30 students from these areas and their parents learned about goals and academic expectations of Harrisburg Promise at an orientation and tour of the Harrisburg Campus of HACC. A picnic in the Rose Garden of the Rose Lehrman Art Center was held after a news conference.
 
Harrisburg Promise will support students from seventh grade through graduation from HACC, with early intervention that will reduce barriers to postsecondary education and inspire college aspirations. In addition, students will make monthly visits to HACC’s Harrisburg Campus for a series of planned events, ranging from financial literacy to exploring career options during visits to area companies to see the real world first hand.
 
Students in the program must maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout high school, live in designated school districts and participate in all other program requirements. Students who successfully complete this program and enter HACC as a first-year student will be eligible for the Harrisburg Promise Scholarship.
 
The HACC Foundation has a goal of raising $150,000 to establish the Harrisburg Promise Scholarship. This scholarship will assist first-year, financially disadvantaged students who have participated in the Harrisburg Promise program
 
Partnerships
 
The Harrisburg Promise is supported by the top executives at HACC, the City of Harrisburg and Harrisburg Housing Authority.
 
HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski, Ed.D., said, “When I was first approached about the Harrisburg Promise in 2015, I was excited. Initiatives like the Harrisburg Promise are part of HACC’s strategic plan. Specifically, our goal is to increase student enrollment among people of color by 2 percent by December 2019 and continue creating a welcoming environment where they will thrive. This new initiative is one of several that will further demonstrate HACC’s commitment to our youth in Central Pennsylvania.”
 
The Honorable Eric Papenfuse, the mayor of the City of Harrisburg, said, “As an educator myself, I support these collaborative steps with community based resources to offer all young people, including boys and young men of color, a pathway to success.”
 
Senghor A. Manns, the president and CEO of the Harrisburg Housing Authority, said, “As trite as it may sound, there is little question that opportunities for higher education for our children are an important, if not key, component to their eventual success. The Harrisburg Promise is a program focused precisely on providing this opportunity.”
 
For more information, visit www.hacc.edu/harrisburgpromise.

For photos from the Sept. 10, 2016, news conference and picnic, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/hacc/sets.
 
About HACC
 
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, offers more than 120 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students.  Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.
 
 
About HACC Foundation
 
The HACC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1985 to raise funds for HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Donors to the HACC Foundation include individuals, community organizations and corporations. The HACC Foundation is gratefully YOURS. For more information, please visit haccfoundation.org. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.
 
 
About the City of Harrisburg
 
Harrisburg (http://harrisburgpa.gov/) is a town with a rich history that spans more than 200 years. As the capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the city attracts thousands of people to live, work and play. The city is poised for a great economic recovery, and there is optimism on our streets as it looks forward to meeting the needs of more than 49,000 residents. With a population of 49,673, Harrisburg is the 10th largest city in Pennsylvania. It lies on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, 105 miles west-northwest of Philadelphia and 204 miles east of Pittsburgh.
 
 
About Harrisburg Housing Authority
 
The Harrisburg Housing Authority (HHA) is one of the largest residential property owners and rental subsidy providers in the City of Harrisburg, providing over 1,700 units of affordable housing and over 1,000 housing choice vouchers. The organization uses affordable housing to stabilize neighborhoods and connect residents with life-enhancing resources through community partnerships. With its internal management team and external alliances working together, HHA offers the most comprehensive mix of affordable housing services to create brighter, more sustainable communities.